3 airports come under permanent Rab watchThe Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) will be posted to three international airports as permanent antiterrorist forces to ensure security of air passengers, a move that came in the wake of recent anonymous

Bomb threat halts DU classesA bomb threat by an anonymous caller panicked Dhaka University science students into leaving their classrooms yesterday before the police came up empty-handed in a hectic search, while schools in Sylhet

US team winds up Dhaka tripThe visiting US State Department team hailed Bangladesh's advance in legal measures against human trafficking, but expressed discontent at the continued complicity in the crime by corrupt officials and

Cops kill N'ganj top criminalPolice gunned down the leader of a criminal gang when he allegedly tried to flee from their custody at Pitalipul in Fatulla in the early hours yesterday.

Watch on shrines beefed upThe government has stepped up intelligence surveillance and security at mazars (shrines) across the country.

UN launches help appeal todayThe United Nations today simultaneously launch its global 'flash appeal' from New York, Geneva and Dhaka in aid of around 3-million flood victims of Bangladesh.

Plan to float shares of roads, bridgesSome major roads and bridges are likely to be floated in the capital markets for public subscription soon to mobilise funds to implement mega projects in communication sector.

Rab denies AL allegationThe Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) authorities yesterday rejected Tuesday's allegation by main opposition Awami League (AL) and said the elite force is operating within the law.

Militant hunt planned for blanket securityThe law enforcement agencies are likely to launch a massive hunt for militants and criminals ahead of the 13th Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Summit in Dhaka to ensure foolproof

20 die as UK troops pound Iraqi militiaTwenty people were killed and 50 wounded in overnight clashes between British troops and radical militiamen, medics said yesterday, as a week-old Shia uprising spread across central and southern Iraq.

Britain nods to human cloningBritish scientists have been given permission to clone human embryos for medical research, thought to be the first such licence given in Europe.

US to launch biometric exit next monthAny foreign visitor with a visa who leaves US through one of 14 selected airports and three seaports will be required to comply with the automated biometric exit procedures from next month.

Four dead, one hurt in cityFour people including a housewife were killed and an alleged criminal injured at different parts of the city during a span of 16 hours ending at 2:30pm yesterday.

Thai stock exchange team in Ctg to visit CSEA high-profile delegation of the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) led by its President Kittiratt Na-Ranong arrived here yesterday on a mission to foster ties between the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE)

BB asked to strengthen monitoring on banksAs corruption and mismanagement have crept into commercial banks in both public and private sectors, the central bank should strengthen its monitoring system, speakers observed at a seminar in Dhaka yesterday.

SEC clears prospectus of Islamic mutual fundTwo new securities, each of Tk 10 crore, are set to hit the primary market soon with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approving prospectus of one of them and the other expected to get approval

Oil price holds strong near $45Oil prices held strong near record highs on Wednesday as sabotage in Iraq, worries about Russian oil company Y]KOS and a fresh warning on the lack of spare capacity in OPEC underscored concerns abouttight

JOBS training on Entrepreneurship developmentJob Opportunities and Business Support (JOBS), an USAID Bangladesh funded project, recently conducted a 5-day long training for staff of Tamanna Foundation and Tamanna Electronics Limited.

China trade surplus $2b in JulyChina had a $2 billion trade surplus in July, its third in a row, as exports jumpel nearly 34 percent from a year earlier, official data showed yesterday.

WTO deal by next year a daunting taskFormer World Trade Organisation (WTO) chief Mike Moore on Wednesday described the revival of global free-trade talks as a "limp forward" and warned it may be tough to reach an agreement at the WTO conference

Football:Four-star MoniSaifur Rahman Moni slammed four goals as reigning champions Muktijoddha Sangsad joined Abahani in the Super Six stage of the fourth Nitol-Tata National Football League with a 7-1 thrashing of Panchagarh

Cricket:Big Sangakkara centuryKumar Sangakkara scored his sixth Test hundred as Sri Lanka posted 303 for three on the first day of the second Test against South Africa on Wednesday.

From Gaza to GreeceOnly a month or two ago, Sanaa Abu Bkheet was running across rough sand and through rutted streets in pursuit of a dream.

Cricket:England favouritesEngland will show no mercy to West Indies when they go into the third Test starting on Thursday at Old Trafford already 2-0 up in the series.

Queen Mary 2 in AthensThe world's largest luxury liner Queen Mary 2 arrived early Wed-nesday at the Athens port of Piraeus, where it will accommodate hundreds of high-ranking spectators of the Athens Olympics, including several

Cricket:Best, Jacobs out of Windies sidePace bowler Tino Best and wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs were left out when West Indies named their 14-man squad on Tuesday for the ICC Champions Trophy in England next month.

First shame to KenyaA Kenyan boxer has become the first in what the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is warning could be a long line of athletes to be thrown out of the Athens Olympics for doping.

Zeus protects GamesGreek officials are confident the massive security operation they have put in place for the Athens Olympics, which open in two days, will serve as a shield of Zeus to protect the Games.

Larger than lifeIan Thorpe might swim like a giant shark but he still feels like he's living in a tiny fishbowl.

Abbas aims at goldPakistan's goal-churning machine and penalty corner expert Sohail Abbas yearns for an Olympic gold at Athens for his field hockey team.

Abbas, 23, has 247 goals from 201 international matches.

Hockey:Nat'l hockey final todayNew faces Faridpur and Bangladesh Army meet in the final of the ANAS Group National Hockey Champion-ship today at the Maulana Bhasani National Stadium.

Cricket:Hildreth defies junior TigersAn unbeaten 151 by James Hildreth put England U-19 on course for a good first innings lead shortly after lunch on Day Two of the second Test against Bangladesh at Taunton in Somerset yesterday.

Football:It's pointing the Real wayLiverpool manager Rafael Benitez refused to be drawn on the growing speculation that Reds favourite Michael Owen is on his way out of Anfield following their 2-0 win against AK Graz on Tuesday.

Korea carry Asian hopeSouth Korea's young guns will be eager to make up for their senior side's quarter-final exit from the Asian Cup when they kick off their Olympic Games campaign with a match against hosts Greece on Wednesday.

Football:Benitez's winning startLiverpool left star striker Michael Owen on the bench, increasing speculation about a possible transfer, but still downed Austria's Grazer AK 2-0 in Champions League qualifying Tuesday.

Football:Ortega back after a yearStriker Ariel Ortega is returning to professional soccer with the Argentine club Newell's Old Boys, ending a yearlong suspension after he walked out on his former team, officials said Tuesday.

Football:Di Canio sorry to leavePaolo Di Canio on Wednesday publicly apologised to Charlton fans over his decision to quit the London club after being offered the chance to end his career with Lazio in Rome.

Football:Eto'o wants Barca moveAfrican Player of the Year Samuel Eto'o says he is determined to move from Real Mallorca to Barcelona and has attacked Real Madrid for trying to scupper the proposed deal.

Football:Zidane decides todayFrance's inspirational play-maker and captain Zinedine Zidane will announce on Thursday whether or not he will continue his international career.

HC rejects writ against takeoverA division bench of the High Court (HC) comprising Justice Joynul Abedin and Justice Sarifuddin Chaklader yesterday rejected the writ petition of the managing authority of the Barisal Planet World Children

Filing of 'false case' protestedAssistant Secretary of the central sub-committee of Awami League (AL) Nasrul Hamid Bipu yesterday protested the filing of a false case against Awami Swechchhasebok League (ASL) and Bangladesh ChhatraLeague

Leaders' tussle troubles townspeopleNormal activities of Syedpur municipality have come to virtual standstill due to a conflict between newly elected municipal chairman Akhtar Hossen Badal of opposition Awami League and local lawmaker Amjad

Asif Akbar: A ripple in the music industryEven though Asif Akbar spent most of his childhood playing cricket and other sports, he developed his all- time passion, singing, in his most private moments and also in school and college.

Lending a helping hand to BoyatiPalli Baul Shomaj Unnayon Shangstha (PBSUS)--an association for the welfare of Bauls, held a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity on August 9 to give financial support to the popularBaul

Uttam KumarUttam Kumar had all the makings of a superstar--a mesmerising screen presence, a mellifluous voice and a dazzling personality.

Indian HC medical camp from todayThe High commission of India will launch a week-long medical relief camp at Vatara Union Parishad, Baridhara, Notun Bazar and Badda from today.

edn materials for mentally challenged studentsCityCell, a leading cellular phone service provider, donated education materials to mentally challenged students of the Chittagong Institute for Intellectually Disabled (CIID) at Zakir Hossain Road in

Iraqis blame US for continuous fightingLying on a hospital bed, 14-year-old Mortada Mushatet is an avid supporter of Iraq's Shiite Muslim uprising after he was shot during clashes with US forces in the militia's Baghdad bastion.

Indian govt repeals 'controversial' PotaThe Indian cabinet on Tuesday night approved repeal of a tough controversial anti-terror law to fulfill the electoral promise of the country's ruling Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

UN accuses Sudan of bombing DarfurThe United Nations says the Sudanese government has carried out fresh bombing raids on rebels in the province of Darfur using helicopter gunships.

Army launches offensive against Maoist rebelsNepal's armed forces launched ground and air raids yesterday against remote Maoist rebel strongholds, an army official said, after the guerrillas threatened to encircle the capital and starve it of supplies.

Jordanian kidnapped in IraqA Jordanian man has been kidnapped in Iraq, the second in 24 hours, a Jordanian foreign ministry spokesman said early yesterday.

Indian police arrest 300 striking lawyersAt least 300 striking lawyers were arrested yesterday from the Tis Hazari lower courts in New Delhi for allegedly preventing judges from attending court by locking the gates of the complex.

Chalabi refuses to evacuate Baghdad officeOfficials from the political party of disgraced Pentagon favourite Ahmed Chalabi refused to vacate their Baghdad headquarters yesterday as demanded by two government eviction orders.

Rumsfeld in Afghanistan ahead of pollsUS Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld held talks with US commanders and Afghan leaders in Kabul yesterday to review strategy as insurgents step up attacks to disrupt historic October presidential elections.

al-Qaeda captives deny 9/11 suspect knew of plotCaptured al-Qaeda leaders have told US interrogators that a Moroccan man on trial in Germany over the September 11 attacks had no knowledge of the attack plans, a Hamburg court was told yesterday.

Luck shines even in jail!A rapist and serial sex attacker serving life in a British prison has won seven million pounds (10.5 million euros, 12.8 million dollars) on the country's National Lottery, a report said on Tuesday.

Editorial:US trafficking reportIn June the US listed Bangladesh as one of ten countries failing to do enough to stop trafficking of women and children, and threatened economic sanctions if the US concerns were not adequately addressed

Editorial:Shakeup in Sylhet policeAfter all that we have witnessed in Sylhet in the recent days, it was expected that the government would do something to set things right as far as the performance of the law enforcers is concerned.

Nukes cause all the troubleAugust 6 and 9 were days that forced one to ponder over atomic weapons. There is global unanimity that these are not weapons of war; they are evil machines of death and destruction aimed at life itself.

EC's roleActing chief election commissioner had done well to book a group of election code violators that had created a healthy atmosphere to conduct the Gazipur 2 by-election.

Too costlyI had read the announcement in the paper of the birth of some glossy addition to our art and literature environment. I borrowed the copy from a reader who can afford to buy it.

Good for democracyAmid unprecedented destruction by the recent deluge across the county, people's eyes were fixed on the Gazipur-2 by-election where multi dimensional factors coincided along with the fact that the Awami

Relation between cousinsIn our society marriage among cousins is quite common. But we are suspicious about its benefits as medical science nowadays discourage marriage between cousins from nearest relatives.

Foreign donationAbout 30 million people of Bangladesh are struggling to survive as floods have inundated 40 out of the 64 districts. The extent of damage has been colossal both in terms of life and property.